Microsoft Windows Vista Build 5231

Bent User? Every part of his (or her) review of Microsoft Windows Vista Build 5231 was spot on. Scary, because I had noted many of the same things in my experience – though I'm waiting to give Vista another shake when Beta 2 is out. As Pat notes:

Windows Vista Build 5231 is not even considered beta software, rather it is a community Technology Preview release. This means, among other things, that a lot should change before the final release.

We're not expecting the world, but we are expecting something better than anything Microsoft has ever offered before (at least, as far as operating systems are concerned). Too bad they can't make the Office / Windows divisions run like the Xbox one. Wouldn't that kick ass? People are actually looking forward to the Xbox 360… can't say the same for anything else the Redmond giant is doing. Even Internet Explorer has been looking sick lately. Sick, as in “lame.” Witness:

What can I say about the current version of Internet Explorer (IE) packaged with Vista? It makes me pine for the days of Netscape 3. It is ugly (the purple to blue to purple blend looks like a joke), it brings precious little to the table, and they've neutered your ability to customize it. The tabbed bar you see below is currently locked into position. You can add the classic toolbar (File, Edit, etc.) and a link toolbar, but you better be happy with them being below the tabs, because that is your only choice. Maybe it is just my Firefox usage, but it seems a lot more intuitive to have the tab bar on the bottom of the stack.

I'm with you, Pat. I think IE7 is going to spur even more people to download Firefox. I have to say, even though gada.be has been crafted for more than early adopters, we're splitting visits down the middle between Firefox and Internet Explorer. Kinda telling, ain't it? We don't just want something new, we want something that works better than what already exists – clearly. The insight continues:

Microsoft clearly doesn't like Google's Picasa software, because Digital Gallery is aimed straight at it. At the moment it is very rough, it cannot even show a preview or thumbnail of a picture, but it looks like they are clearly heading towards a similar level of functionality as Picasa or iPhoto.

You have to understand something about Microsoft: they'd rather reinvent the wheel three-times over than acquire something. I think it boils down to ego. That, and someone in the backroom who's always exclaiming: “We can do the same thing and make it uglier at the same time!” I want that job. Ya know, the job where you have to explain to people that a $100 piece of software (Digital Image Suite Plus) is better than a free one (Picasa). Even when Picasa was independent shareware, it was cheaper AND better AND named better AND prettier AND the top choice AND the kitchen sink. It's just too bad that Google doesn't design its other apps like Picasa. The Bent User continues:

By getting rid of choice, Microsoft seems to be dumbing down the operating system and for most users this may work out fine, but that does not mean that I or other long time users will enjoy it.

I'm overly confident that a new TweakUI will be developed, although I wouldn't count on Microsoft do much else with the PowerToys series. Their focus will be on Start.com and the Desktop Gadgets. We'll see what happens with beta 2. The review reveals:

Microsoft has thrown in a new little calendar application for those people who, heaven forbid, do not use the full version of Outlook.

Great. They're spreading things apart instead of bringing 'em together. I knew the Windows Calendar was going to make a comeback (yes, we had one in Windows 3.x). However, I believe this functionality needs to be indelibly sewn together with Windows Mail, turning it into a true PIM – perfect for Joe and Judy Consumer who don't need Outlook. That said, I've been given certain assurances that the Outlook team will not be making the same mistakes as they have in recent versions. Yes, mistakes that they can admit to – the very mistakes I've been pointing out from day one. But that's another discussion for another day.

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